Your full travel guide to North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

UNESCO Sites

Germany is home to an incredible 51 UNESCO World Heritage which scatter the entire country, ranging from natural to cultural treasures. The country’s first ever place to be inscribed by UNESCO was Aachen Cathedral in 1978, one of the first in the world to be added to the renowned list. It’s not just the first ever UNESCO Site that is in North-Rhine Westphalia, though, with the region home to a total of six.

For a step back in time, visit the baroque castle of Augustusburg, with the Falkenlust hunting lodge in its grounds, between Cologne and Bonn. Together, these two are referred to as the Brühl Palaces. As is typical of German baroque, they are handsome enough on the outside, but it is on the inside that they really let rip, in fantasias of rococo plaster and scrollwork balustrades, dizzying in their detail. Then there’s the former Be­ne­dict­ine ab­bey at Cor­vey, which has a magnificent mural, only fragments of which email, depicting scenes from the Odyssey. 

Two cathedrals in the region have also been recognised by UNESCO. Aachen Cathedral is one of the best preserved architectural monuments of the Carolingian period. Don’t miss its huge chandelier house in the octagon, or the lions head that top the cathedral’s gate. Elsewhere, Cologne Cathedral dazzles with its Gothic architecture, and you can even take a tour of its roofs. 

More headline-grabbing landmarks include the industrial behemoths of the former coal mining district of the Ruhr. Here the bauhaus-inspired and UNESCO-listed Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex looks like a brick-built university, and hosts a design museum and artist’s workshops, along with a swimming pool set amongst the huge coke ovens. Zollverein hosts regular festivals, and is a supreme example of what can be done with a defunct coal mine if you really set your mind to it. 

Special art museums

In NRW, great art can be found almost everywhere. There’s a Picasso Museum in Münster, established 20 years ago to accommodate a collection of more than 800 Picasso prints. From Münster, pass through the vast and unspoilt Teutoburg Forest to find a unique modern art gallery in the town of Herford. The Marta Herford is housed in a statement building by American Frank O. Gehry, the architect who designed the Guggenheim in Bilbao. With innovative developments in the field of sustainable design, the Marta Herford has eco-innovation at its heart. Don’t miss the RecyclingDesignPrize exhibition, which showcases some of the entries to the prestigious design competition organised by the Arbeitskreis Recycling e.V. Herford.

Over at the Museum Insel Hombroich, about 15 miles southeast of Düsseldorf, you can admire its extensive gardens populated with eclectic buildings housing paintings and sculptures, with many artists working on site. This gives you the unique chance to talk to the creators themselves and get an insight into the exhibition themes from them.

Local creativity

With its vibrant street art, eclectic neighbourhoods and trendy eateries, creative culture is strong in NRW. See it for yourself by heading to Cologne’s Ehrenfeld neighbourhood, where graffiti-covered walls take centre stage and you can spend your day like a local: walking the streets with a coffee in hand, browsing the locally-owned boutique shops, crafts and concept stores.

Elsewhere in Cologne, the dynamic district of Mülheim on the bank of the Rhine entices with its revitalised industrial buildings which now host offices and innovative, creative businesses. Don’t miss the many  Turkish and Kurdish restaurants, bakeries and greengrocers, where you can eat fresh, local food away from the tourists. 

This creative energy can be found all over the city. In fact, the whole of the banana-shaped urban area from here to the Ruhr has been christened the urbanana for its creative energy. It's a place where creative minds come together and design authentic sustainable solutions, such as sustainable fashion styles and buildings.

The extent to which Cologne values contemporary creativity is evidenced by the pre-eminent position of the Museum Ludwig, right next to the Cathedral, with its mix of Pop Art, Expressionism, and Russian avant-garde. And then there’s the MAKK (Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln) which examines the intersection between art and design, where De Stijl furniture meets Piet Mondrian lithographs.

Architecture

With its focus on the media and fashion business, it is no surprise that Düsseldorf is stacked with cutting-edge modern architecture. Its centrepiece is the curvaceous Daniel Liebeskind-designed shopping centre called Kö-Bogen I, whose curves make it light on its feet, and whose ‘cuts’ in its façade sprout with greenery. That merging of plants and steel has been further developed in Kö-Bogen II, whose angled walls are softened by lines of beech hedges. And amongst the parade of architectural styles over by the former port, now the Media Hafen, is Frank Gehry’s stunningly organic Neuer Zollhof, clad in gleaming stainless steel. 

Architectural statements are not just the preserve of the cities. Slag heaps have been turned into visitor attractions and are a sustainable and creative way to preserve the heritage of the area while allowing nature to take over. Head out on a themed walk to explore the likes of the Tetrahedron at Bottrop, a giant climbable pyramid that lights up like a luminous beacon at night, and the Tiger & Turtle at Duisburg, an aerial walkway pretending to be a rollercoaster. 

Urban secrets

The powerhouses of the region are of course Cologne and Düsseldorf, such close neighbours but so determinedly different. And there’s another city close to Cologne that has a different flavour again, even though it is reachable on Cologne’s longest tram route. For a long time Bonn was the buzzy German capital, but these days it has become an elegant, quieter destination, although there are still some government offices. Its other claim to fame is as the birthplace of Beethoven, with regular concerts.  Take the eco-friendly route and explore the city by cycle.

Even in the industrial heartlands there’s usually something special to find. For example in Duisburg, home of Europe’s largest inland port, British architect Sir Norman Foster has rejuvenated the inner harbour, creating a revitalisation reminiscent of dockland projects all over Europe. Duisberg is also doing its bit to protect the nature around it, with vast woodlands and numerous lakes. Over in nearby Essen there’s an unexpected find in the form of Margarethenhöhe, an immaculately designed and maintained garden city with a villagey atmosphere dating back 120 years, complete with market square and pockets of greenery.

Don’t miss Münster with its extraordinary historical centre with its  Baroque treasures including the Erbdrostenhof Palace and the Dominican Church. The art and Cultural History Museum is well-worth poking your head into, and if you are are there on a Wednesday or a Saturday, don’t miss the bustling market which is held in the Domplatz Münster, the city’s largest square. With 4,500km of cycle paths, exploring on two wheel is made easy in Münster and its surroundings. Pedal along the canal, stopping at some of the many restaurants, cafes and bars along the way for refreshments, and explore the Aasee, a large artificial lake.

And then there is Aachen with its iconic cathedral, but there is much more to do here besides. Spend some time soaking up the well-preserved old town by walking through the narrows alleys, some of which stretch back more than 2,000 years. Along the way, spy beautiful fountains, tall town houses and history around every corner. But it’s not all in the past, with places like Ponviertel boasting a bustling student population and streets alive with restaurants and bars. The Hof square is similarly lively, with outdoor dining terraces allowing you to enjoy a lunch while watching local life go by. Head into the countryside to experience Aachen’s green side. The city is surrounded by hiking and cycling tours where you can get out and enjoy the fresh air.